and they shall see his face (revelation 22:4-5)

This message was preached at New Testament Christian Fellowship in Claremont, NC on August 7, 2022. Its focus is the detailed blueprint of the New Jerusalem, the Lamb’s wife, as unveiled in Revelation 21:10-22:5, particularly the city’s CIVIC AFFAIRS (22:1-5). In verses 3-5 of this final chapter of Revelation, we look at the INTERNAL affairs of the New Jerusalem, its municipal administrations that direct inward: IDYLLIC SOCIETY (22:3a); DIRECT ACCESS (22:3b); and GUARANTEED LIVELIHOOD (22:3c-5).

In the New Jerusalem, a great big giant international park of sorts, the Church will have a guaranteed livelihood, permanent employment as servants of the Living God WHO SHALL SEE HIS FACE: what Moses (Exodus 33:23) and the elders of Israel (Exodus 24:10-11) were not able to do, what only Gideon (Jehovah 6:22-24) and Manoah (Judges 13:15-25) were able to taste. Such is the reward for the pure in heart, those washed in the blood of the Lamb (Matthew 5:8).

May these patterns and visions of future blessings make us ashamed of our lukewarmness and thereby strengthen our hands in these dark times. May we with PATIENT CONTINUANCE endure in well-doing, not succumbing to our weariness (Romans 2:7; Galatians 6:9).